Queenscliff Special Clouser Minnow Baitfish/Crustacean Saltwater Hook : No.6 Tiemco 9394. Thread : 4/0 brown. Eyes : Chrome dumbbell eyes 1/100oz. Wings : Brown marabou topped with gold ripple flash. Head : Built up with binding.
Tying Instructions This is a quick fly to tie and good for beginners. 1. Use a long shank straight eyed hook ( I use Tiemco TMC9394 which is only nickel plated, or use long shank SS Mustad bait hook and un-kirb it). For #6 hook, use 1/100oz chrome plated lead eyes. On #4 hooks I use 1/50oz eyes. 2. Using brown or burgundy thread, tie the eyes in on top of the hook (in usual Clouser fashion) about 1/3 of the way down the shank. Cement securely. 3. Turn the hook in the vise point up. Tie in the wing - a good sized bunch of blown marabou, being careful to keep all the ends roughly even. I use about ½ to ¾ of one side of a feather and roll it down off the quill to keep the ends even. Trim from the butt end of the marabou and tie in so the tips are about ½ a hook length past the bend of the hook. Cement securely. 4. Get 6-8 strips of fine gold ripple flash and tie them in on top of the marabou. Trim the tips evenly about 6mm past the end of the marabou. Cement securely. 5. Build up the head with thread to get a blunt looking bulky nose (not a slim tapered snout).Whip finish and cement securely. 6. Optional - Thinly coat the head and eyes with 5 minute Araldite. This gives the eyes some added impact protection. It also allows a few more Flathead to have a chew on it before the thread starts fraying and unravelling.
Fly Notes
Fishing Notes I use the fly to target Bream, but often use it as a general estuary & creek fly. I've never taken a large Flathead on it, which I think prefer a meal a little larger, though I usually get a mixed bag of Bream & Flathead up to 1 kg. As for most Bream fly fishing, dawn & dusk are the key times. Also effective during the day in dirty water. Favourite size - No.6, although I've never tried a No.8. I use a floating line, preferring to use long 6-10lb leaders to cover deeper locations. I have also tied the flies with eyes one sized bigger to maintain more depth and have also used intermediate lines for fishing deep spots, but if there are currents around, they are a pest as you can't mend to straighten the line up. Excellent for slack or still water deep locations. I use two retrieves, a slow one for Bream when they are feeding on the bottom. The fly is jerked quickly with my wrist, about 5-8cm, then pause a second or two and repeat. Jerk shorter and wait a little longer as it gets darker. This bobbing action maximises the movement of the marabou & gold flash while keeping the fly right on the bottom. I also always tie the fly on with a loop knot, usually a uni knot, to also encourage maximum movement. Keep a good hold on the fly line during the pause, as Bream will often tentatively pick up the stationary or falling fly. Fan cast sandy/muddy bottoms, concentrating in front of any visible weed beds. Also pepper casts around moorings, rocks, anchored boats or dingys and rocks. The fly also slicks back well into a baitfish profile when stripped quickly, with 30-60cm strips & a short pause. This has worked well on aggressive Bream hunting around oyster racks, retaining walls etc and also on Giant Herring, small GTs, Big Eye Trevally & Mangrove Jacks.
Location Notes Estuaries, creeks, lagoons etc where Bream or Flathead can be targeted in water up to 1-2 m deep. In Sydney that means Narrabeen Lagoon, Lane Cove River, Parramatta River, various Harbour Bays & Points. Primarily a dawn, dusk & night time fly, but it will work if the fish are there and biting during the day, especially small Flathead.
Prey Notes A generalist fly. The action of the marabou & gold flash on a slow jerky retrieve is reminiscent of baby squid or a small prawn back skipping. At higher speeds the fly resembles a small mullet or whitebait.
Tier John Knight

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